Recap: Middle Tennessee vs. Memphis

Murfreesboro, TN (Sports Network) - Cody Clark connected on a 40-uyard field goal late in the fourth quarter and the Middle Tennessee defense held off a late charge, as the Blue Raiders defeated the Memphis Tigers, 17-15, at Floyd Stadium.

Logan Kilgore completed 23-of-36 pass attempts for 224 yards and a touchdown but was also intercepted for Middle Tennessee (2-1). Jordan Parker rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and Tavarres Jefferson caught seven passes for 78 yards.

Paxton Lynch threw for 164 yards and a score on 18-of-26 passing but was also intercepted twice for Memphis (0-2). Tevin Jones caught five passes for 55 yards while Joe Craig led the team with 65 yards on four receptions. Brandon Hayes totaled 81 yards on 15 carries.

The Blue Raiders got on the board first. Kilgore completed a two-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Griswould on third and goal. The score capped a 13- play, 92-yard drive. The Blue Raiders picked up 30 yards on Memphis penalties during the drive.

Early in the second quarter the Tigers were able to drive the ball deep into Middle Tennessee territory. However the drive stalled when Jessee Milleson was stopped four yards short of the end zone on third-and-goal, and the Tigers settled for a 21-yard field goal from Jake Elliott.

Barber intercepted a pass from Lynch at the Memphis 22-yard-line to set up a drive for the Blue Raiders that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Parker.

Elliott booted a 41-yard field goal with five seconds left in the first half to cut the Tigers' deficit to 14-6 at the break.

Elliott would also score the first points of the second half as his 27-yard field goal had the Tigers trailing 14-9.

The Tigers finally got in the end zone early in the fourth quarter when Alan Cross took a handoff from Lynch for a one-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Tigers clinging to a 15-14 lead.

That score would hold until, late in the fourth quarter, Clark nailed the game-winning field goal from 40 yards out.

Memphis would get a chance to answer as it took over with 1:49 to play. However after driving to the Middle Tennessee 36-yard-line, Lynch was sacked on consecutive plays, allowing time to expire.